Thursday, November 11, 2010

Well boys and girls, its November 11, 2010 and our little Cole is warm and cozy inside still. Our original appointment with Dr. Hewitt earlier this week on Tuesday gave us a bit of insight into the fact that we would be waiting a bit longer for our Monkey's debut. I'll admit, I was disappointed. All along I have envisioned holding my angel on 11/11/10, but that just isn't going to happen.

Tuesday November 9, I wasn't dilated or efaced. Dr. Hewitt recommended we come back on Thursday (today) to check once more our progress. He didn't say what the plan was, just that we would discuss it Thursday.

Today, at 9:45 we went back to his office and still no progress. I had a feeling he was going to say that. NOt becuase I am having a pity party, but I just haven't been feeling "different." Sure, I'm tired, my hips go numb as I rotate from side to side at night, my lower back is pretty raw from the constant throbbing, and I think my belly couldn't possibly grow any larger, but what girl hasn't experienced all of these things. I would GLADLY do it all over again for this little boy, my world, who will be here very soon.

The plan is to wait another week and see how we progress. After reviewing my non-stress test today, Dr. H said Cole is perfectly healthy and I am equally as well off. My blood pressure has been perfect throughout the pregnancy and he sees no reason we can't wait safely until next week. November 18 I will go back to the office and get checked. If I still haven't dilated, the plan is to send me up to the Medical Center for Pre-op for a scheduled C-section. (YIKES and GULP, more about how I feel on this matter in a moment). If I have dilated as little as 1 cm, Clint and I want to opt for an induction. I do realize the probability of my needing a C-section after being this far overdue and having an induction is very high (like 70-80%) but I still want to let Cole progress naturally if at all possible. Of course, if Cole decides to make quick business of this whole dialting and effacing thing, by all means, we'll let Daddy rush me to the hospital, and all that jazz. We would by far, prefer this scenario.

Now for my feelings on the C-section;NO, I don't want one.YES, I am scared to have the procedure.NO, I will not let myself get worked up over it and cause my child to freak out. (I hear they can smell fear!)

Seriously though, I have had in my mind an idea of what delivery will be like. Fade into my daydream with me.....~~~~~~~~

Its the middle of the night, and I awake from a beautiful slumber to unusual pain. I wait a while before waking Clint to make sure this is the real deal. I get up to walk off the practice contractions, if that is what they are, but no they continue to get stronger and stronger. "Ok" I say to myself, "Time to wake Daddy-to-be!"

I gently wake Clint, who calmy opens the Contraction app on his iPhone and times them for me. In the mean time, I have time to freshen up, apply makeup, fix my hair, and collect what last minute items I need in my bag. Once my slightly painful contractions are lasting 1 minute in duration and are spaced 5 minutes apart, we grab my bag and walk out of the house for the car. Clint has my seat warmer on, and the car is ready to go, snuggly warm!!

When we get to the hospital, Clint escorts me to the second floor, Labor and Delivery, where a gaggle of sweet nurses wisk me into a gown and prepare me for my iv fluids before receiving my epidural. Because by this time I am nearly 4 cm dilated, perfect for having my epidural administered. Labor progresses wonderfully, and before we know it, its time to start pushing. Dr. Hewitt, by this time, is ready and waiting to catch our little football!! Just like we hoped, a few pushes and there he is, perfect! Maybe a little cone-headed, but we can deal. Dr. H hands him up to me so we can begin Skin-to-Skin and my heart grows ten times!!!

In my arms is my angel.

SLAP BACK TO REALITY!I realize it isn't going to happen this way. Even if we do go into labor naturally, its going to be one long exhausting trip and we aren't going to be ready. Be posted for the actual version of what happens. It will surely be more like a spinoff of the National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

Whatever Cole's entrance into this world turns out to be, we are SO EXCITED to welcome him. So long as the end product is a helthy baby, what more could we ask for?

Friday, October 29, 2010

Cole will soon be here! Only 13 more days until D Day, and we have the nursery ready for our little monkey to come home. I realize he won't be ready to come with me to work for some time, but when he is old enough I want to have the office/nursery ready for him as well. To continue with our Zoo Animal theme I decided to paint a few canvases and hang them over the pack and play in the office.

I finished off the painted images with some fabric giraffe print ribbon from Hobby Lobby. I think it really finished them off.

Here is what the finished product looks like! My favorite is the Elephant!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Its my favorite time of year! So many reasons to be happy this one in particular. Of course, the leaves are changing, and the air is crisp and cooler, but Autumn is a time to enjoy trips to Jackson's Orchard and the Mountains for our annual trips, have friends and family over for get-togethers like our Annual Fall Harvest Festival, and most importantly the arrival of our Cole Daniel!

I usually keep myself very busy with the aforementioned activities, and I told myself I wouldn't slow down this year, just maybe approach the activities a little differently.

Mom and I went to Jackson's Orchard to start the season off on the right foot. Afterwards, we went home and made Fall Topiaries and a wreath for my front door with Pine Cones, Acorns, and fall colored foam balls. I love fall crafts!

October 8-10 was our 2 annual trip to the mountains! We rented a cabin (the same one from last year) with the Meadors, Gills, Baenzigers, and the Coomers. It was so much fun! The girls enjoyed staying up late and talking by the fire indoors while the boys enjoyed the firepit outside! We can't wait for next year's trip with our little ones!

October 16 was our 4th annual Wiles Fall Harvest Festival. As in years past, we had a potluck style meal and enjoyed the outdoors. There is something about that cool autumn air that makes chili and ham & bean soup taste even better than usual!

October 17 was the Fall Fellowship for Rich Pond Baptist Church at the Pemberton's Farm. A fall get together not to be missed. I remember the hayrides and pumpkins from when I was a little girl. Mr. Ted and Mrs. Nadene always go out of their way to make it a fantastic time for everyone. I'm so glad I got to go this year.

We still have so much to look forward to! Cole's birth and Thanksgiving, hopefully in that order! Fall 2010 is shaping up to be one of the best ever!

Friday, September 10, 2010

As most of you know, Mom's cancer fell out of remission last fall and she has been going through a bit of a rough patch with chemo and prep for the bone marrow transplant her doctors told her to expect. This isn't her first rodeo. In 2001 Mom was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma initially. It was discovered in the later part of stage 3 and was very serious. SHe was very weak and sick, but with determination, prayer and the grace of God, she made it through chemo and a bone marrow transplant at the University of Louisville Hopsital, Brown Cancer Center. She received that transplant in May of 2002. Later in 2003 she reached remission status and had, up until last fall, been steadily improving. While there isn't a 100% cure for Multiple Myeloma, Mom has been extremely blessed to live the last 7 years in maintenance in what would seem like perfect help aside from the severe bone pain she hides on a daily basis. She would tell you she is blessed!

Skip ahead to fall 2009. Mom's blood counts began slipping and her Oncologist Dr. Smith, an amazing person, began the tests and procedures she required. Mom's cancer was indeed back but they caught it very early. While we don't know for sure, it seems that increased stress could have played a role in her cancer's spread. In November, Mom began chemo treatments with a drug called Velcade. She received those treatments once a week in November and December. In January some complications developed that caused Mom to be hospitalized off and on for a few Months. She picked back up with her chemo as soon as she was cleared from the complications, and continued it until the end of August.

U of L Brown Cancer Center will be Mom's home for the next week. Her appointment for the "Bone Marrow Harvest" was yesterday and she will be there until Wednesday the 15th at least. The purpose of this week stay is to collect the cells that will repopulate Mom's body after her slate is wiped clean essentially. She will be brought to a level of health where she is kept alive with assistance. At that point her treated cells will be reintroduced back into her body in hopes they will repopulate her, with a Cancer clean body, at least as much as is possible. I hope this makes some sense to you, because I have to admit, it is way over my head.

When Mom goes back October 1 for the Bone Marrow Transplant, she will be in the hospital for at lest 2.5 weeks; however the average time in the hospital for this procedure is 4 weeks. We're praying little Cole will be patient and wait until his Nana is home before he makes his entrance. But we won't think about that right now...

Yesterday, Mom and I made plans to meet at 7:00 and I would follow her to Louisville for her initial Education and Orientation with the Cancer Center. She would also receive the first of 4 growth hormone shots for the harvest.

We met and were set to leave after we gassed up the vehicles and got some breakfast. My car has been acting funny for a while, and Clint and I had plans to sell it. It just so happened that I was still driving it as of yesterday. It idled in a weird way, I have no idea how to describe it other than the RPMs went from 1000 to 3000 while sitting still, and then it would die. If this was the only problem I could have dealth with it. I had to get to Lousiville! But once I got on the interstate and reached a speed over 65 it sounded like something was rubbing. I immediately got off the interstate and called Clint.

Mom had to be at her appointment by 10:00 our time, and she would need her vehicle while in Louisville for the week, so I wouldn't have been able to ride with her and drive her SUV back. I had to have my own ride there and back. Clint told me to just bring the car back to the office and we would figure out our next move. So, I sent Mom ahead of me to her appointment not knowing how I would get there myself.

Clint drive a large lifted trcuk, I can't crawl into it anymore being that I am rather large and 7.5 months preggo. His Corvette sits too low to the ground and isn't exaclty easy to get in and out of as well. Our Denali was at the shop getting tuned up in Franklin, and everyone else I knew didn't have a spare for the day. I was stuck and about ready to resign. I called Mom in tears and apologized for not being able to come. I wanted so much to be there, but didn't know how it would have been possible. CLint was afraid I would be upset with him, but I assured him it wasn't his fault. It was no ones fault, just bad luck with vehicles. Then, my knight in shining armor (Clint) suggested I rent a car for the day. I love that man!!

Debi drove me to Enterprise, I rented a Santa Fe and was on the way to Louisville in 20 minutes, only 1 hour behind schedule. I have to say it was nice to be driving a new-ish vehicle. I called Mom back to let her know I would be right behind her. She said she could have shook a knot out of my tail for worrying myself over it so much, but when its family, that is what you do! No matter what it takes.

I arrived at the Brown Cancer Center only 20 minutes late. I hurried upstairs where Mom was already having her blood drawn and tests run. The nurses were extremely nice. I believe with all my heart God has special angels on Earth and they are called nurses!! After her tests were run, they sent us to a private room where Mom got to lay down and rest with a warmed up blanket. It felt great to prop my feel up on the side of her bed and cover them with her blanket! We chatted while we waited for the Education and Orientation.

Jill R., a pharmacist for Dr. Herzig, the bone marrow doctor, came in and explained the procedure in depth. She answered every question, and listened while Mom went on about her grandson (to be born). I think it takes a special person to be able to speak with cancer patients everyday about the scary procedures they are facing. She did it with grace and made us both feel comfortable as much as possible. She even gave us inside info about a great place to eat for lunch, and printed us directions to get there!

After the Education and Orientation, one of the nurses came in a gave Mom her first Growth Factor shot. (she will be receiving 1 per day over the next several days). We set up Mom's appointment to come back in the morning for shot #2 and spoke briefly to Dr. Herzig. I'm so glad her Doctor is a kind man. I'm telling you, the Brown Cancer Center rocks!

Two vehicles navigating the streets of downtown L-ville isn't smart when you have no idea where you are going! We decided it best to drop off Mom's car at the hosptiality house she would be staying at, and she would ride with me. I thought the house would be a few blocks away, but it was more like 10. Thank goodness for GPS on my iphone. We never actually found it, but I got Mom to the address, and figured we could worry about fine details like the exact location of the house after we filled our bellies. It was already 1:30 by this point. We fed the meter some quarters and headed off for our next adventure; Ramsi's Care on the World.

Ok, you would think two educated women with a GPS could figure out how to foillow a map. But throw a GPS that won't update as you drive into that equation, and you have a problem. I finally pulled over, restarted my phone and read the map old school. Our, what should have been, 7 minute drive took at least 20, but we made it. The trouble was so worht it. Ramsi's is nestled in an older neighborhood mixed with homes and quaint shops. We parked along side a residential street and walked to the cafe. We passed an awesome coffee shop, cool book store and some gorgeous brick planters with wild flowers growing. Unlike anything I have ever seen, the purple blooms on this plant looked like something out of a science fiction movie, and the bumble bees loved them!

Ramsi's had a gorgeous old laid brick patio covered by lattice and real grape vines that stretched up the sides of the brick entryway. The inside of the patio had a lovely old water fountain, and the table directly in front of it was open. Mom and I helped ourselves. It was so nice to sit down and take a load off after our crazy morning. The menu featured dishes from around the world, I guess that's why they call it a cafe on the world. It didn't take us long to find something we both wanted. Mom talked about how she would paint the things she was seeing in the patio area, and I just listened.

After lunch, we headed back to the hospitality house. I called ahead of us to speak with the desk about where exactly they were located. We had only been a block past where we should have been and quickly got the there. The current location for the HH was being closed, and they were in the process of moving to a new location. Mom was the last patient to use the old HH and will be the first in the new one. But for last night she stayed at the old location. It was time to gop home for me, so I hugged Mom and told her I loved her. She admitted fianlly that she was very glad I came. That she was scared to have done it by herself. Not that I would have needed those words, but it made me feel better that I could help in some way.

I began the drive back to Bowling Green. I forgot Lousiville was an hour ahead of us, so I hit rush hour traffic at 4:30. It wasn't too bad actually. Not until I looked down at my phone to call Clint did I realize I had less than 10% of my cell phone battery left. GREAT! I didn't have my phone charger, so I decided to take a pit stop half way home and grab one in Sonora at the travel center.

We always stop at this Travel Center, not sure why. Its just a nice place to stop in between L-ville and BG. They have everything we need and then some. I was getting a bit sleepy on the road, so I took advantage of the opportunity and grabbed some M&Ms for the sugar/choco caffeine rush. Any excuse right, ha! I also grabbed the phone charger. Once I got in the car, I realized it was one of those packages you couldn't get into if your life depended on it. So, I crawled back out of the car and waddled inside to ask the man who checked me out, if he had scissors. Back to the car, to plug in my phone, easy enough, right? No. The charger didn't work. I tried plugging it into the second receptor, and disconnecting my phone and then plugging it back in. Still no juice. Back inside to see the man again. I apologized but told him I would have to return this one and get another charger. He had me check the second charger in the car to see if it worked. I tried receptor number 1 and 2. No juice, but then remembered the back seat in the SUV we rented had another receptor. IT WORKED! I went back inside, exchanged the chargers and headed home. Ordeal #300 for the day resolved and I was on my way home yet again.

Once home in BG, Clint had me drive my car (the one that caused so many troubles earlier) home and empty everything out of it. It went straight to Franklin last night, where it will be promptly sold at auction as is. I guess he's done fooling with it. I must say, good riddance!

After the long day, Clint and I ate at Pizza Hut and finally got home at 9:30. I was OUT 5 minutes after my head hit the pillow.

I spoke to Mom this morning and she is doing well. The side effects from the Growth Factor shots have begun. Mainly bone pain. She has already moved to her new room in the new HH and will be there until Wednesday at least. She's found a way to give back while at the hospital. She will be volunteering at the Mint Julep Club at the Brown Cancer Center Saturday. I'm so proud of her!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Last night Clint and I rushed like mad people to get home, get showers, grab a few pillows and head to the Medical Center for the first class of our 6 week course in childbirthing! Nothing funnier than a pregnant woman waddling down the hallway with two pillows tucked under her arms. Of course, we weren't the only ones that arrived a few minutes late. Thankfully, our good friends the Whitfields saved us some seats.

I must say our teacher, Mrs. Martha Houchin is wonderful. She has all these lovely abrreviations after her name; RN, MS, MSN. It makes me feel she is very qualified. Seriously though, she has been in the business of taking care of Mom's and newborns, and teaching nurses to do the same for over 40 years. I feel we are very blessed to have her teaching the course.

Last night we covered the third trimeseter of pregnancy, Labor pain, signs of pre-labor and breathing and relaxation exercises. At one point she turned off the lights and prompted us to try the progressive relaxation technique. Slowly we relaxed out heads, neck, shoulders, chests, and so on a so forth until we reached our toes. Clint just about had me rolling. Have mercy! This man is supposed to be my relaxation and breathing coach! HA!

Mrs. Houchin gave us a list of 10 things Dad is not supposed to say during labor. I thought I'd share them with you all (by the way, she's heard them all personally come from Daddy's mouth):

Thursday, August 26, 2010

I'm so excited to begin a new bible study with my Saturdays. We are reading "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan.

First, let me explain my Saturdays. We were so named by our study leader Leslie Miller after diving head first into our last book titled, "Plan B." Simply explained, all the good stuff happens on Saturdays. To learn more, you'll have to read the book, and I highly suggest you do, it was wonderful.

Now, back to our new book! I began reading "Crazy Love a little over a week ago. I honestly wasn't sure how this book would affect me. So many in our group had already dove into it, and were raving about how it convicted them, but I wasn't sure in what way I would connect with the text.

The first chapter is titled, "Stop Praying." Woah. That one hits you in an odd way. What on Earth could this say to convict me. Boy did I have a surprise in store. Chan encouraged his readers to stop praying for a moment and focus on the God that we are praying to.

"The wise man comes to God without saying a word and stands in awe of Him. It may seem a hopeless endeavor, to gaze at the invisible God. But Roman 1:20 tells us that through creating, we see His "invisible qualities" and "divine nature."

Again Woah! I never stopped to think before I began to pray. Maybe that is something I missed out on by being raised in a Christian home. I never thought twice about striking up a conversation with God. He was my buddy on high! The ultimate Dad that I could talk to. When I truly stop to think about the creator of the universe being available to me at any given point in time, I'm in awe. The artist who painted the stars in the sky and suspended the galaxies in the heavens loves me and want to be a part pf my life. I'm speechless...

I'll hush for a minute. Go to www.CrazyLoveBook.com and click on the Awe Factor of God link. This video will really give you a glimpse of what I am trying to put into words.

While reading this chapter I thought of how I see God and what he means to me. Have I become complacent? Am I oblivious to the miracles that happen around me? My mother, a cancer patient constantly recites the following verse to me.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their vocie is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the end of the world." Psalm 19:1-4

I never paid much attention to it. It was just one of those things that she would say and I would notice the breathtaking sunset in front of us, or the night sky littered with stars. Mom has this thing about the sky and its beauty. Reading this chapter opened my eyes to the fact that she truly sees God's beauty, not just colors she would use to reproduce this picture in front of her eyes on a canvas. She is thanking God for the gift that he is giving her; a chance to see his majesty paintd on the ultimate canvas. I want to see God's miracles through the eyes of a cancer paitent, thankful for every moment God has given them.

And what about little children; experiencing God's wonder and magnificence for the first time. The look on a child's face when they discover the zoo, taste a new and interesting food, or get tossed above their daddy's head into the sky. Are they not seeing God? I want to see God's miracles through the eyes of a child again. Completely amazed and alive to those miracles for what they are; incredible.

I don't want to become numb to the greatness of God. I pray that I can open my eyes and see the gift God has given me. Becuase they are EVERYWHERE. I want to be a grateful steward of those gifts.

If this book is as good as the first chapter, I am going to be in for an amazing journey over the next few weeks with my Saturdays. I look forward to learning about God's Crazy Love for me.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Times flies when you are preggo! Or at least it has seemed to fly by for me. I've spent the last few days and weeks really thinking about what I expected this pregnancy to be and how it has actually been.

We all have dreams about becoming Mommy's at some point in our lives (well the girls do anyway) and I suppose I expected this 40 weeks to be somewhat of a fairytale. NEWSFLASH pregnancy is not for the faint of heart. All joking aside, there is much more that we aren't told, and find out when its our turn to become Mommys.

Surprise #1. Your Metabolism changes during Pregnancy

Ah yes, we all grew up hearing stories about preggo cravings and the women who dipped pickles in their ice cream (sorry but that one still grosses me out.) I struggled with keeping my weight healthy before becoming pregnant. Actaully, after the Clint and I first met I gained quite a bit of weight. We enjoyed eating out more than we should have and didn't really care to count calories, we were in the early stages of love!! Then one day, he proposed and I realized I had to fit in a wedding dress. Whoops! It was time to get a handle on healthy eating habits again. After I re-taught myself some restraint, I found it somewhat easy to maintain the healthy goal I had set for myself for wedding day up until I found out I was pregnant. It was like a switch flipped in my brain, "Sure Brenna, eat that ice cream, the baby NEEDS it." Before a few evening snacks on ice cream would have come and gone with no major inbalance on the scales, but throw a baby into that equation and poof! Instant weight gain, or at least for me anyway.

I had no idea my body would react to a few indiscretions in my diet in this way. Maybe my few slip ups, were actually more than I realized, but nontheless, I gained, and quick! My doctor didn't seem to be too worried about the amount I had gained, but I was. I wasn't used to seeing the scale read the way it now is. Number 1 rule of pregnancy: DON'T DIET!! So ladies keep this in mind when you begin your 40 week journey. Start healthy from the beginning and you won't have a meltdown when your reach the target weight gain of 25-35 pounds (projected for the whole pregnancy) at 25 weeks! My advice, there is no time like the present to begin eating healthily. Even if you haven't been up to this point. While you don't want to lose weight necessarily, you want to make sure the little monkey in your belly is getting what they need. No skipping meals! So fill up on healthy snacks and smaller meals spread out across the entire day.

Surprise #2. My Belly isn't as cute as the ones in those Adorable Preggo Shots advertised in the Mall.

Why oh why did I set myself up for this one! I am not exacltly the type of woman that can imagine herself bearing it all in one of those tastefully nude preggo portraits, in fact I had to cover my eyes during a good bit of "Sex and the City" the movie, but I thought. "hey, if my belly is going to be that cute, why not get a few photos of Clint and myself loving the baby through my protruding belly! WRONG! Not only do I scare myself silly everyday hunting down stretch marks with laser sharp eyes, but I have a self-titled condition called Cone Belly. At any point in time by belly resembles an air traffic controller signalling traffic to the left or right.

Cole loves to roll and flip in my belly. He wanders from one "corner" to the other in no time at all. This child is going to break records, I promise you. So the fact that my belly never holds its shape for long doesn't surprise me much. In fact, it makes me smile. BUT that doesn't mean I am going to frame a photo of the Cone Belly and hang it over my dinig room table. Sorry, I just can't bring myself to do it.

Then there is the recent development of poison ivy/ pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP). I'm not sure which has attacked my belly and on upward on my poor body, but after reading the name, you'll understand why I really don't care to find out. All I need to know is 1. is will not harm my child in any way, and 2. it itches and there isn't much that can be done about it. So what's the point in diving any further into this condition. I can breathe the words :poison ivy: in the summer and it attacks my body, so it could very likely be that as well. I'm gonna just let this one go...

Surprise #3. "Oh Brenna, did I forget to mention that the women in our family swell very badly, and retain water from very early on?..."

Why no Mother, you didn't mention that detail.... Ughhh... My poor ankles are no more, or at least until little man is born. My legs continue into my foot, and are connected with, yes you guessed it, cankles. Its not pretty girls, but its just how it is. I began retaining water and swelling at 4 months pregnant. And we aren't talking puffiness, its full blown foot sausages. I laugh so I don't cry.

The good news is, my blood pressure is fine and there is no danger at this point for Cole. I just keep my feet elevated when at all possible and drink lots of water. The ironic thing is, drinking water helps to control water retention, along with eating bananas and gobbs of other tips I've read over the last few swollen months.

If these surprises are the worst I have to deal with, I am incredibly lucky. I count my blessings everday. There are so many things that I could be dealing with, beleive me, I've read the "What to Expect, When You are Expecting" book and it makes me shudder to think of all that I could be dealing with.

I read in another of my pregnancy reference books, "The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy," the Pregnancy Gods know when you gloat about your perfect experiences. So believe me, I'll let each and everyone one of you know when something isn't hunkey dorey! I knew I had it coming when I miraculously avoided morning sickness all together.

So the fairytale may not be what I thought it was going to be, but at least I'll get my prince in the end. And isn't that what makes every little girl's dreams come true? I can't wait to see by sweet Baby Cole!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

I've never been one who could sit still and read a book full of facts. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I admit, I never truly read those chapters required for socail studies homework. I simply read the questions and skimmed for the answers. Sue me. So when it came time to research this new adventure into pregnancy and Mommyhood, I was a bit overwhelmed. My first trip to the Pregnancy section at Barnes and Noble was a bit much for me. Don't get me wrong, I love a good book. I can become totally engrosed when it comes to a good mystery or story from the heart, but a book of straight facts, well, thats another story.

I've buckled down and I DO read my weekly passage from the book Courtney Meador so graciously loaned to me, "Your Pregnancy Week by Week." Sometimes I nod off a bit, but I am dedicated, and I really DO need to read and research to be informed. Who wouldn't want to know what produce item the baby resembles each week! But for fun, I wanted to invest my time into a few light-hearted texts. First on my list, "Mommywood" by Tori Spelling.

Reading "Mommywood" while on vacation this summer.

Tori Spelling is querky, just like me. While she may be a tad bit more worried than I am on a normal day, I can totally relate to her thought process. She worries about how her life experiences will shape her parenting skills, and how to fit inside a box she was clearly not raised to dwell within! While I certainly wasn't raised inside an LA mansion, I totally loved reading about how Tori depserately tried to give Liam and Stella a proper suburban upbringing.

This book follows Tori as she adventures through pregnancy and the first years of her childrens' lives. Her television show, Tori and Dean Meet Hollywood gave me a bit of background info on their family dynamics. Aparently, the childrens' grandomther, Tori's Mother, wasn't the role model most women model after for their offspring. What is so amazing is how Tori turned a situation that was less than wholesme into something positive. Who has the perfect childhood? Not many. But one thing I took away from the book, was how to let your sun shine through the clouds. Tori is an absolute joy!

One wouldn't think a top-paid Hollywood type would bend over backwards to sew a ladybug costume for her infant or agonize over the fine details of an egg toss at the annual 4th of July picnic. I guess that just adds to the charm of her story. I must say, I began with this book, and not with her first, "sTori Telling," but let me assure you, I will be reading both her first and third books now. I can't wait to get to Barnes and Noble to find them!

When mixture has completely cooled, place a tablespoon sized portion of meat mixture inside the won ton wrapper. With a slightly damp brush (I used water) trace a small outline around the edge of the wrapper. Fold opposite corners to the center, two at a time until an envelope is made. Seal the meat mixture inside by pressing the wet edges of the wrapper together.

Place desired number of sealed won tons into skillet or fryer so they are not touching. When they turn brown and crispy flip them over.

Allow the cooked won tons to cool on a paper towel, and enjoy! Makes about 100 won tons.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Dear Lord, Thank you for this little angle I am carrying. He means the world to Clint and me, and we know how precious he is to you! Thank you for the kicks I feel everytime I sit, stand, eat, breath, and sleep. It means he is healthy and hopefully happy! Thank you for my rib that is out of place, it means my uterus is growing, thus the baby is growing! Thank you for making my sleep restless when I sleep on my right side or back, it ensures I sleep on my left side, and keeps the baby safe. Thank you for allowing me this pregnancy during the hot HOT months of the summer. I can eat all the watermelon I crave 24/7 and never have to worry about it being out of season. Thank you for my husband who remembers to tell me I am pretty (even though I wonder sometimes), draws my epson salt baths, and deals with my mood swings. You truly found the right man for me to marry. Thank you for giving me a fantastic mother, a faithful father, a step-mother who I can talk to about anything, a great set of in-laws, and siblings to provide this baby with all the babysitters he will EVER need. Thank you for our friends who listen when I share every concern and detail about our pregnancy. I feel blessed by everyone of them! Thank you for showing me yet another way to love.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

The baby bedding had arrived and we had selected a paint that matched perfectly. One thing remained on the to do list, before we could set up our furniture; painting the nursery. Thanks to our friend Phil Prive with Mr. Fix It Handyman Services, the nursery was ready to go in one short afternoon.

We had the pre-assembled baby furniture in the garage for a few weeks, so as soon as the paint was dry Clint got to work! He is so good at this sort of thing. I felt like I should be helping but ended up being the photographer.

After a few hours and some re-arranging of the furniture we had the beginning of a great nursery. While the closet is fully stocked, unfortuantely the room needs a bit more work. I'll be posting more as we add to the decor!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

No, I haven't created some wild new dish and am wanting to test it out on my friends. You probably wouldn't want to try something that combined the above three anyway. I found myself disucssing food cravings with several of my girlfriends pregnant currently and in the past. What I have decided is hormones can do crazy things to the appetite.

When I found out I was pregnant and was expecting my little Monkey, it was March 6. NOt exactly prime fruit and veggie time in Bowling Green, KY. Nevertheless, my body craved and longed for watermelon. I didn't care if I had to pay $7 for a small sugar baby, the second I saw one of those delectable green gourds, I bought it! Now there is a tradition, albeit one I practice myself solely, but a tradition regardless, of bringing home my watermelon and letting it cool over a vent in the kitchen. My grandmother Connie Henderson always had one waiting for me when we visited her in the summertime in Ripley, TN. It makes them taste much better you know. :) So in keeping with this practice, my watermelons spend as long as they possibly can by the vent.

When I can no longer stand the wait, I get out my tools; a large wooden cutting board, my butcher knofe, a melon baller and two rectangular ziploc tubs. Then the melon balling commences. I can easily ball an entire watermelon while talking on the phone, and watching a Golden Girls episode in less than 5 minutes. Its a talent. what can I say...

Enough about me and my cravings. What I found to be so interesting were the craving the other ladies I know have now and have had in the past.

Craving Category 1: Watery Foods.

I suppose watermelon fits in here, but ice, icees, sherbert, soup, and fruits of all types fit nicely as well. Janice and I, while at the farmer's market last year, discussed her craving for Sonic Ice. Every morning she had to drive thru and pick up a cup to munch on while working. One of the ladies from my bible study group just craved watery foods in general.

Craving Category 2: Meat.

I've been faithful to my cause of cutting out caffeine; however, this poses a problem. There really isn't much to drink when you aren't going for the carbonated, caffeinated thrist quenchers. I make it a point to keep a bottle of water handy. I was filling up at the Minit Mart the other day, and ran inside to get my bottle. I made it to the checkout and the man who mornally waits on me noticed my belly protruding. He got up the nerve fianlly and asked. I just laughed and told him yes, we were expecting in November.

He then began to tell me about his wife's crazy meat cravings. She didn't particualrly fancy herself as a meat person, but found that pregnancy created a newfound love for the food group. They would walk through Kroger and she would find herself drawn to the meat department staring at a case of fish, steaks and pork chops. The funniest part he said was under normal circumstances she couldn't tand the thought of seafood. Oh waht our hormones can do!

Craving Category 3: Salty vs. Sweet

What is it about pregnancy cravings that makes us think of pickles and ice cream. I can remember my mother dipping little mini pickles into her coffer cups of ice cream and gagging a bit at the thought. What compells moms-to-be to mix the salt and sweet? Perhaps we'll never know.

If we really want to get technical we can look into the science of the sweet and salty tastes that we are drawn to. Some scientist believe its our natural instinct to be able to isolate bitter tstes during pregngany. Most plants we are supposed to shy away from during this time that are harmful carry with them a bitter taste, so naturally we can detect them more easily. Another thoughts is that due to our increased blood volume our need for sodium increases, thus the craving for potato chips and dill pcikles.

I read in a book loaned to me early on in my first tri-mester, craving are the bodies way of getting what we lack nutritionally to take care of our sweet peas while they grow. It bothered me at first to read this. I'm a fairly healthy person, I eat but not in excess. I watch my sweets and pay attention to the nutritional labels. But then the more I thought of it, I relaxed and told myself something I use in moments when I feel fear gripping me; women have been doing this for thousands of years. I was made to carry this little man! If you think you are a worrier before your a re with child, just wait. But that is another story.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

After seraching through countless webpages for the perfect baby boy bedding we found a very sweet set at Pottery Barn Kids. The Jungle Friends set seems to be very popular (we weren't aware until after we decided upon ordering it) and we had to backorder the set. Not too terribly long, but days seemed to drag along and I waited to get the phone call to pick up all the pieces we ordered.

Friday, Courntey, Daniel, Clint and I made an evening of it. We drove to GreenHills Mall in Nashville and picked up our bag full of monkeys, elephants, lions and giraffes. Yes, our little man will be a zoo keeper before he even knows what one is! Of course, no trip to Nashville is complete without some sort of dining experience. The boys twisted our arms. and Courntey and I agreed to Ruths Chris. Its a hard life, I'm telling ya!

Saturday, we planned on spending the day with our good friends the Grahams at the Lake House by Barren River Lake. I got spoiled, spending the day with all the sweet kiddos! Landon Meador, my favorite 2 year old in the whole world, proved to me yet again that fear is learned nit inherited! My husband spend a good our picking him up out of the water and tossing his at least ten feet towards his father in the lake below. The child couldn't get enough of it!!

Megan Graham, and her little 4 month old Jackson kept me busy, in a completely wonderful way. I grabbed him up all for myself while the girls fixed up dinner in the lake house. I must say he fits perfectly into ones arms! It was hard to give him up when his Grandmother arrived, but I totally understood!

Christy Potter and her sweet little Raelie have we also there. We fell in love with Little Raelie at the Gill's Superbowl party earlier in 2010. She is the perfect combiantion of her Mommmy and Daddy! Precious as a sweet pea and curious, this little girl had a blast in the lake wearing her infant life jacket. Christy propped her on her back and she was set. I wish I had taken some pictures of her. She even had on an itty bitty teeny weenie yellow polka dot bikini! NOt sure if she wore it for the first time that day or not, but it was stinkin cute!

Sunday, we woke up feeling the urge to nest. I suppose that is the term they use. I had the overwhelming desire to clean everyhting out of the baby's nursery and prepare for paint. It had to be done that day! Crazy hormones of mine! The only problem with doing this; we have no place to put the extra stuff we didn't realize we had so much of. Where to this accumulation of sentimentals, collectibles, and trinkets come from. I think I may have a problem.

Clint was a huge help and of course, moved all the large items. We bought some paint to match our zoo bedding and are in the market for a painter to turn our nuetral room Phantom Blue! Not sure I love the name, but the color is great. Any suggestions, let me know.

I hate to say it, and even worse be it, but I am very anxious and ready to get this nursery set up! I know in 6 months I'll be wanting time to slow down, but at this exact moment I'm ready to see some progress. Plus, I think my facebook friends are ready to see some pictures of my Monkey's room.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Today is a very special day, one that I thought would never get here; we are 20 weeks pregnant and offically half way to our due date of November 11, 2010. It seems so strange that after years of imagining what it would feel like to be here in this moment, I have fianlly arrived. Yes, if you are asking yourself, I was dreaming of being a mother long before I met my loving husband. I suppose I have always wanted to be a mother.

I always wondered what it would feel like to be expecting a little human to arrive. The thought of a child inside my womb kicking a squirming seemed so alien. Now, it seems so familiar and sweet. This morning on the way to work, my little monkey kicked time after time after time. Maybe he likes the vibration of the tires over our gravel driveway, or maybe he likes to ride. No matter what he was feeling, I just smile and said good morning to my little man.

Clint and I were driving to Hendersonville, TN Tuesday night to pick up the baby's dresser at Target. Apparently its a sought after item and only two were avaialble in the tri-state area. Luckily we were only 50 miles away. The baby began one of his kicking sessions and I just laughed and said he agreed with what I was saying. Clint gave me a funny look, but in a way I do feel like we have conversations that require no words. NO, I don't know for sure what he is thinking at this exact moment, but I have no doubts his little brain is processing lots as I am writing this entry. The amazing thing, this is just the beginning. The things his brain will come up with in the next few hours, months and years. I feel so blessed to get to be here for them.

Planning for this little person is well underway. Our good friends, the Meadors, are driving with us to Green Hills Mall tomorrow to pick up our baby bedding from Pottery Barn Kids. I feel like this is the turning point. Now we can match paint colors to the bedding and get the nursery re-painted. Then, the glorious project of piecing together the crib, changing table, and our sought after dresser (maybe not so much after Clint begins to put them together) can begin.

We had the bright idea to decorate the nursery in zoo animals one night while watching Planet Earth on television. "Animals would be very stimulating for the baby. Or at least everything Baby Einstein is in some varying theme of bright colors and zebra stripes, so we can't go wrong, right?" Is this the same as saying if we read it on the internet, its true. I've come to believe that 50% of the "stuff" I've read in child development books is gold and the other 50% is garbage. My only problem is which 50% am I leaning toward.

In my mind, my child will wake up from a peaceful slumber look over at his 5' tall giraffe and think to himself, "That's a giraffe." Ok, maybe I'm jumping ahead of myself, but lets get his brain cells working. We'll take trips to the zoo when he's a toddler and he'll have all his favorites already determined based on the multiple bedtime books we rehearse together. I want his imagniation to run wild and hopefully this room will be the first step on his road to discovering the world.

So, 20 weeks down and 20 weeks to go. As you can see my brain isn't slowing down. The pregger brain continues to run wild in anticipation of the arrival of our Monkey.

Hope you had a SUPER Valentines Day!

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About Me

This Blog is named Brenna's Boys, and for good reason. My boys, Clint, Cole, and Luke are my world, and have helped me to understand so much about myself. I am so proud to be a Wife and a Mother. It is truly the biggest blessing and greatest honor to be a part of these mens' lives.
But at the same time, I am my own person (for a few seconds when I close my eyes at night) and from time to time I get to fall back on the things that I have enjoyed for years; cooking, crafting, and exploring the great outdoors.
This blog, hopefully will be a way for me to remember all those awesome moments that have filled each day, week, and years of our lives.
We are the Wiles; Clint, Brenna, Cole, and Luke. Welcome to a peak into our lives.